Murli Manohar Joshi calls for fair polls amid CEC resignation row

Murli Manohar Joshi said governments endure when elections are fair and bureaucracy stays transparent. His remarks sharpened focus on the opposition's demand for action over electoral roll revision irregularities.Image used for representational purposes onlyNewdelhi,Oct 8, 2026 18:24 ISTBJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi on Thursday said a government elected by the people should not fall if elections are fair and the bureaucracy is transparent. His remarks came amid the opposition's demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.Joshi also said any violation of the Constitution must be examined by the Supreme Court. The Padma Vibhushan awardee was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 21st FICCI Higher Education Summit in New Delhi.Replying to a question on the opposition's protest, Joshi said, "...government of the people, for the people and by the people, shall not perish from the earth, provided the elections are fair, the governments are accountable, and the bureaucracy is transparent."He added, "The opposition is responsive and responsible, and has a clear-cut alternative programme.... The whole thing is to be done under the ambit of the Constitution, and if the Constitution is violated, then the Supreme Court should look into it. That is the principle on which democracy should work," Joshi, a former Union minister, said. The opposition protests followed a September 25 report in The Indian Express on alleged irregularities in the SIR process and differences among the election commissioners over certain decisions. Adding to the protests, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday led INDIA bloc leaders in another street demonstration. After a lunch meeting at Janpath, the opposition grouping held a surprise dharna near Jantar Mantar, but for the second day police stopped the planned anti-CEC protest midway and detained him and other leaders.On Thursday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hosted another lunch meeting of INDIA bloc leaders at a restaurant in Delhi. Later, the opposition leaders decided to hold a peaceful protest at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat, alleging the country had been "hijacked" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the Chief Election Commissioner through a criminal conspiracy involving 'vote chori'. The developments came as Joshi stressed the need for fair elections, accountable governments, a transparent bureaucracy and constitutional functioning, while the opposition stepped up its campaign over the alleged irregularities in the electoral roll revision process.- Ends